Today started out much the same as yesterday...playing the waiting game. It was 10.30a before Riba showed up to pick us up from Mei Letitia. They seemed confused....no GPS, Gord had to give his passaporte a 3rd time....and the price was more. And it was noon before we left town. We were not happy...but they did show us where to get onto Avenida de Simon Bolivar so getting through town in the busy traffic was easier. And it was!
We were able to avoid a lot of the city congestion by going around the city on the other side of the mountain....

First night on the road. Bus ticket to Ambato, six hours into our travel to capital city of Quito, was $8 per person. We had the brilliant idea to buy an extra seat on which to pile our backpacks.
While we didn't see much of Ambato, we did go to a Colombian restaurant for a simple dinner when we arrived at about 5 PM. We were on the road to Quito by 10 AM the next morning.
Hotel Imperial
www.hotelimperial.com.ec
Single Room $20 including full breakfast
Two blocks from bus terminal, easy walking distance

Return Trip to the Andes
Drove back up the Andes (see picture of the Ecuador topography showing the Andes mountains) to Ambato and Riobamba again last week, this time with Dean Cummings and our driver Dewayne. We visited a proposed Rotary Global Grant project concerning irrigation of farm lands in volcano country as well as above-the-tree line communities needing potable water systems.
It was great to learn more about these projects and meet the many community members and Rotarians involved. I will be working with Dean and Rotarians around...

Travel Plans for Tomorrow
Tomorrow I leave for Guayaquil on the bus to meet with Rafael. Monday we will leave for the Amazon area of Ecuador known as El Oriente. We will go to visit rotary clubs in Puyo and Macas. I visited each a few years ago with PDG Juan Prinz and Rotarians from Pennsylvania. It will be wonderful to reunite with some friends.
Both towns are in the Amazon drainage at around 1,000 feet above sea level. Afterwards when we return west over the Andes, we will stop in Riobamba and visit the rotary club there. It will be my...

It's Sunday morning...the day of the Super Bowl.
Surprisingly, there has been a lot of media coverage about the game. I think in part because the game will be in the New York media market and many Ecuadorian and other Latinos live there. Some of them have become rabid American football fans and share their enthusiasm with their families and friends back home.
The past weeks I have been mostly in Bahia doing a variety of things and 'seeing' more aspects of life here.
The Game of Bingo:
Lately, in the evenings, I have encountered families...

Two weeks ago, I traveled north along the Pacific coast to a small fishing village called El Matal. It is near Jama, a major shrimp raising and agricultural center. I stayed with friends Peter and Leisel who purchased property a few years back and built themselves a large house. The location has impressive views of the Pacific coast as well as of the mountains to the east. The town is populated mostly by fisherman who motor mostly at night in small, open boats tens of kilometers out to sea to catch their livelihood, returning landward at...

Traveled from Salinas to Ambato and the home of the Arguello’s. We left Salinas about 9 a.m. and arrived in Ambato around 8 p.m. It should have only taken 5 hours but the mountain pass was fogged in and the road was being worked on in many places with only one lane available. We have some great pictures of the ride where we went through the really poor areas of Guayaquil , saw many farms, bananas (they have 7 varieties here) and cocoa plants. Beautiful mountains and we have an incredible view of Cimborazo which is about 4000 meters tall and...

Well, this is it. Our final entry for the trip. Bryce and I are back at home after a VERY long trip home. There is so many stories we could tell you. We hope to schedule a time for friends/family to come over for dessert and hear about the trip. But for now I'll just give one story to give you a taste of what God did. Im also including below some photos, links, and prayer requests in case you want more.
On June 23rd we did evangelism in a particular neighboorhood. At the time of our karate show we were dissapointed when only 3 kids showed...

Greetings everyone,
Yesterday was our last day of evangelism/discipleship. E3 does such an awesome job. The numbers at our debrief meeting last night had 12 churches planted, over 850 professions of faith, with about 60 people in our group!!! PTL!!
The first couple days were dedicated to evangelism and the last couple including yesterday were discipleship. We were invited into the homes of two Ecuador families and took the new born Christians through lesson 1 of a bible study. The great part is that the "national" (Ecuadorian who attends...

Here are some pics from the equator on our tourist day! I balanced an egg on a nail...only place in the world where possible. Bryce and I put a foot in each hemisphere. The most amazing thing was watching a tub of water drain straight down when it was on the equator line and in circular motions when you move the tub just a few feet away from the equator.
Hope you enjoy the pics.
Thank you all SO much for the writing in our guestbook. We sure have enjoyed reading the mail from all of you. Thank you mostly for your prayers!
Ill send a final...

Finally have just a few minutes here in Ambato to update you all on the incredible past few days. After a dissapointing first day when our pastor didnt show up the past three days have been life changing and miraculous. Im estimating but the total number of people who have accepted Jesus for my team of 4 americans and 3 translators is about over 60 people! Ive been blessed beyond words to see my son lead an estimated 20 or more adults and children to the Lord.
Bryce has loved doing the Karate shows as part of the evangelical message. Our...

The team made it in last night! PTL. There is a total of about 60 north americans and Im guessing around 25 Ecuadorians making the trek (with all our luggage) from Quito to Ambato this morning. No more 5 star hotel! Yea.
Last night we had dinner with our group and another group that was here with E3. Met a guy who is part of an organization that drills for water. They are going to drill a well in Ambato. Its really amazing to listen to stories from people like him on how lives all over the world are being changed. His ministry provides...